030-i. Advice: environmental aspects of sugar production - Tanzania

The NCEA issued an advice to describe the expected environmental aspects of sugar production in four Tanzanian companies. It also provided recommendations on how to manage expected negative consequences. In general, no adverse effects were expected apart from effects of the use of a harmful pesticide.

Advisory reports and other documents

Significant details

In the process of privatizing four sugar companies, the government of Tanzania was negotiating environmental management of the industry with the new company owners. The Dutch Embassy in Tanzania asked the NCEA to advice on this topic, with a focus on the following objectives:

To identify and assess (potential) environmental problems (including health) with respect to production and processing of sugar cane;

To advise on viable and affordable measures to improve environmental and health conditions.

In its advice, the NCEA concluded among others the following:

Present sugar production at Tanganyika Planting Company (TPC), Kilombero I and II and Mtibwa will not result in unacceptable environmental problems within and/or outside the boundaries of the estate;

There is however one exception: at TPC use is made of an internationally banned pesticide that may result in pollution of groundwater and surface water and can affect the health of people who apply it.

Based on these conclusions, the NCEA recommended the following:

To stop the use of the before mentioned pesticide;

To develop an environmental management, health and safety plan for each company.